Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel on Monday refused to accept any lapses on his part after a delegation of the opposition Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) members arrived at his office to level allegations against him for approving mass pardon to 670 criminals, including murder convicts. The 78-year-old President skirted the issue and shifted the entire blame on the Nepal cabinet, citing constitutional binding to approve its recommendation for the move. “You know the constitution and parliamentary practices. I can not overrule the recommendation made by the cabinet,” he said. Poudel told the delegation of the fourth-largest party in the Nepal House that in case the objections persist, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister must be held accountable. Last week, on the occasion of Constitution Day, Poudel was criticised for granting general amnesty to about 670 criminals, including Yog Raj Dhakal ‘Regal’, who is said to have affiliations to the Nepali Congress — the party Poudel belonged to before he was elected to the top post around seven months ago. Saying that the President’s office was not the right place to approach, Poudel told the delegation that dragging him into the controversy will weaken the republic.
